Carl Sagan

11 minutes ago, Ellafella said:

Safety-first defender. Did well enough. I’d like to see a centre-half bringing the ball out with his feet, looking up like McFarland, Wright, Stimac or Keogh. Just sayin’. 

Which is why I'd have Jagielka or Cashin as one of the defenders once things settle down, hoping we sign Jags. 

Do we set up to score goals or to not concede goals? The Euros saw Gareth Southgate pick 8 or 9 defensive players every game and it worked for a while but couldn't get him over the line, with an incredible array of attacking talent on his bench. Rooney has far fewer options but a very similar mindset.

Asked in today's Radio Derby interview why Louie Sibley doesn't start Rooney effectively said he doesn't trust him defensively. Sibbo is to Rooney what Jack Grealish is to Southgate. Rooney said he didn't play Sibbo specifically because his number one priority was not to fall behind in the match.

Here's the interview https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09pv3hb with the best version of the interview at 46:30.

Derby's problem is not scoring goals. Louie Sibley is the biggest goal threat our team has. Aston Villa built their team around Grealish until selling him for £100m. If Derby are going to survive (and maybe thrive) this season we need to build our team around Sibbo, not give him a cameo in which to try to make the difference. How best to do this?

I have long argued that the 4-2-3-1 does not work for us and we should be playing 4-3-3 (set up as 4-1-2-3). With the players available at the moment we should have Shinnie shielding the defence and then we can have Morrison and Sibley as the two more forward midfielders, which gives a forward line of Kazim-Richards central and Jozwiak and Thomas wide. So much more threatening than what we have at the moment.

With a team desperate for goals, having your 5 most dangerous attacking players in the line-up seems a no brainer. Rooney needs to learn to trust Sibley, and I am certain that trust would be rewarded.

Highlights from Sky Sports

https://www.skysports.com/football/Derby-county-vs-huddersfield-town/report/447343

It's at least good that Sibley came on early and has been followed by Ebosele. Last season Rooney's (lack of) substitutions was just bizarre. Hopefully he's realized his mistake.

Desperation by the club, but some gambles pay off. Let's hope this is one of them.

Welcome, Ravel!

9 minutes ago, Rammy03 said:

That's not too bad. Excited to see Watson. Wait for all the Sibley comments.....

I'll start. For me it's criminal to see Sibbo on the bench. Heartbreaking to see Rooney squander our best talent for whatever reason. But let's hope we have enough to actually score some goals and get the win.

18 minutes ago, Topram said:

 

Pleased if there's still a chance of Jagielka. 

5 hours ago, Tyler Durden said:

Seem to be alone here but haven't paid for any online TV subscriptions for about 5 years plus now - make use of the Freesat channels which is enough for me or have been using Now TVs Daily Passes to watch games I can't get to which since they hiked the price of this to a tenner isn't justifiable anymore for casual users and done as they obviously want you to take out a monthly subscription.

Pay £19 a month for Vodafone Superfast broadband get about 70Mbps download speeds which is enough for me. 

Not alone. I have 500MB/s broadband and unlimited phone for £32 and my main telly is Freeview. But I've an android telly so have Kodi on there with various add-ons so can essentially watch any TV series or movie ever made through that, if I want to go beyond terrestrial. Sky are offering me £20 a month for Sky Sports through NowTV which I might do, but haven't decided yet. I told them I wouldn't use them again when they leaked the England team for the Euros final and I do think it's important to stick with moral positions like that. They shouldn't try to undermine their country, but that said every journo I know would sell their own grandmother for a story.

Today SpaceX mated the Starship (prototype SN20) on top of the Super Heavy booster (version 4) for the very first time:

This is the combination intended to attempt the first orbital test flight in the near future. It is the tallest (118m) and most powerful rocket ever constructed and, far more importantly, it is designed to be fully and rapidly reusable. What an achievement to have come so far so fast. The future is being built before our eyes.

Later on, Starship SN20 was taken back to the HighBay to have its remaining heatshield tiles fitted while Booster 4 remains on the orbital launch pad for testing. I imagine that next will come an tank test using liquid nitrogen just to ensure the fuel tanks can cope with the desired pressure. 

Someone had to post it...

Apologies if already posted but I didn't see this whizzing through the TL thread:

Things must be bad if people are going to be upset we're not going to sign Ravel Morrisson of all people! I'd rather play Sibley.

51 minutes ago, MK-Ram said:

Suspect all signings will be announced pretty much dead on 12.  In another example of failing to read the room, DCFC will thinks it's a masterstroke of PR, whereas in reality it will annoy everyone.

I'm genuinely unclear why that would annoy anyone. 

1 hour ago, Ghost of Clough said:

I would love it if we don't announce anything, only for Jagielka and Davies to be named on the teamsheet at 2 tomorrow. 

I think that would be excellent. The main frustration for managers is having their team leaked to opponents in advance and it has to give us an advantage and a lift if we can sign the key centre halves but keep it under wraps.

I saw Kaide was trending on Twitter tonight. Turns out he replaced Shaqiri in Liverpool's pre-season friendly against Bologna and acquitted himself well. What might have been.

38 minutes ago, Igor Igor Whats the Score? said:

I agree with Mel’s academy comments and although I appreciate I’m in the minority I would rather watch Cashin develop than Wisdom make his customary howlers, see Bird kick on rather than have another Butterfield at 4m and give Ebosele a go instead of Anya at a combined cost of approaching 10m (fees and wages).

This thread's updating all the time so it's tough to keep up. I have to say I'm surprised by the vitriol and new negativity last night and this morning. Nothing that's been reported seems remotely surprising or particularly new.

I agree with @Igor Igor Whats the Score?here and that's why I'm very wary of signing up a lot of journeymen triallists to further impede the development of talented young players. 

Mel's huge error was bringing in Cocu to develop the youth but then completely undermining him by signing Rooney for the profile/publicity to help sell the club. But we knew (or guessed) that already. I'm happy for Rooney to walk and give Wassall the reins to try to see what he can do with the mess he's left with.

8 minutes ago, David said:

Would appear a tweet I made blew up in a way I never expected tonight as some of you saw.

Needless to say many have been blocked, no time for it. 

Was never intended to be attention seeking, looking for followers or some how trying to tease fans.

There was a conversation taking place regarding the release of the minutes, thought I was being helpful by letting them know it would write ups only as no minutes were being taken. That’s it. 

I was on a train with patchy 3G signal and expected to respond to a poo ton of people.

I have started the write up on my phone, well aware even more so tonight of fan frustration, just stepped off the train now, home in 20 and honestly, I’m off to bed and if that pisses more people off, so be it. 

I don't see how you could have handled anything better. Twitter block is liberating. Thanks for going. I think everyone on here appreciates it. Look forward to seeing your write-up when you're ready.

49 minutes ago, Ambitious said:

Rooney should really get a shift on. What is he getting out of being here? I’m a Derby fan and I would’ve walked weeks ago. 

Mel sounds checked out to me. 

45 minutes ago, SuperDerbySuperRams said:

I think Rooney will be gone by close of play tomorrow. He’s being strung along by these bunch of charlatans, just like we are. 
 

Morris isn’t a football man, he just doesn’t get it. Remember his reasons for buying Derby County Football Club? Chancer, a toy to stroke his ego.  

My take is that Mel can't afford to sack Rooney so the only option if wanting to be rid of him is to make him walk. It sounds as if that might be happening. 

32 minutes ago, Scott129 said:

I actually think Wassall might do a better job with all of the young players that are going to be in and around the 1st team.

I agree with this. I think Wassall is probably Mel's last hope. He deserves his chance, even if it's currently a rather poisoned chalice.

5 hours ago, Steve Buckley’s Dog said:

It might help if the ticket office was open. I’m not a business genius or anything but can see a certain logic to that possibly impacting on sales. 

For those of us going on Saturday, remember to email the club at least a week before if you want a pint at half time. No bars will be open on the day. 

Just to clarify the alcohol situation (I expect people will need a stiff drink) the fans park isn't open but apparently the concourse bars are.

What utter nonsense that the fans park is closed "for safety reasons". People are enjoying their ability too much to restrict freedoms.

Apparently The Athletic has done a piece saying the Derby players were surprised Rooney picked Lawrence to be Captain: https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/wayne-rooney-decision-which-left-some-Derby-county-players-surprised-revealed/

The best thing is for Tom to contribute in a major way on Saturday and for us to come away with the win. Let's hope it happens.

To be eligible for Saturday's game signings must be completed by noon on Friday. Announcing players would possibly put some numbers on the gate. If we kept it secret it would definitely give us a competitive advantage when it comes to revealing the teamsheet.

The proof of the pudding is always in the eating, and Derby have consistently failed to deliver on their timelines over the last year (eg with the takeover). I'd love us to get Jagielka over the line and, if there is now no limit on numbers, also Davis, but I'm not currently expecting anyone to come in before the weekend.

4 minutes ago, big bad ram said:

If we sell Lawrence, regardless of people’s opinions, how can we realistically replace him with the current transfer restrictions imposed?

For 4 games out of 5 my take is we're a better side without him in the team. So it makes sense to sell regardless of whether we can get a replacement. But there are cheap options available if we need. However, I would focus more on a main striker. 

Why is it that DCFC is the deathknell for so many players? Of course we paid an absurd fee for Butterfield after our epic recruitment department decreed he was the only possible replacement for an injured Will Hughes, but he was an OK Championship midfielder before signing. 

21 minutes ago, hintonsboots said:

As in the Mail, in before locked.

If the biggest selling newspaper in the country isn't a creditable source then there's no point in the entire Transfer section. 

[He says hoping there's some truth in it!]